DEADLY toys went up in flames in just minutes, prompting a safety warning from trading standards officers.

Cornwall Trading Standards are encouraging you to be careful and follow simple precautions when buying from local selling sites, on social media and at local fairs.

The advice follows a recent case where Trading Standards have recovered a large quantity of unsafe items specifically targeted at residents through these local selling sites, social media and Christmas fairs.

The seizure included counterfeit branded cuddly toys, children’s fashion accessories, child-appealing lights, key chains, harmful bow and arrow pens, fancy dress costumes and figurines which had all been purchased direct from China and did not conform to UK/EU safety requirements or The Toy (Safety) Regulations 2011. 

In this case, the seized toys had unsecure eyes, hair, ears and small parts easily detached in play and capable of choking young children.

In fire safety tests, setting fire to the toys using a small candle flame in a controlled fire safety facility the toys took just four minutes to engulf in flames and black smoke. This could have been a child’s bedroom. 

A film of the test has been uploaded at www.facebook.com/CornwallBusinessConsumerSupport to show that it took just a few minutes for the deadly thick black smoke to drift from the melting fabrics and filling materials. 

Jane Tomlinson from Cornwall Trading Standards said: ’Safety complaints involving local selling sites and social media are on the increase. From the video and the recent issues with hover boards, you can see the fire concerns arising from directly imported, often counterfeit, goods that do not meet safety standards.

’Private individuals and traders directly importing counterfeit toys can often contain cancer causing chemicals, as well as being choking hazards.

’You may be saving a few pounds, but can be putting your children in danger.

’We encourage people to look for recognised schemes, such as Buy With Confidence and Made In Cornwall, as well as using recognised traders when choosing where to buy their goods from.

’If you have any concerns about the quality and safety of a product please stop using it.’

Please contact Trading Standards on 0300 1234 191 with any information.